Civil Society Groups Demand Action On Ogoni Clean-Up

The Nigerian Government is receiving a lot of criticisms from civil societies based in the Niger delta region, following the continuous delay in the cleanup exercise of the Niger delta, especially the Ogoniland issue, which has attracted global attention.

At a media briefing in Abuja, the independent service delivery monitoring group, ISDMG and the centre for peace and environmental justice, CEPEJ, also raised allegations of unfulfilled promises on the take off of the maritime university, located in the region.

The June 2, 2016 ground breaking ceremony by vice president yemi oisnbajo for the clean-up of Ogoni land, which had been polluted by oil exploration activities was welcomed and celebrated across the land.

Over one year after, the area is yet to experience any form of cleaning activities.

Worried by this development, civil society groups have started to remind the federal government of the implications of the delay in commencing the cleanup.

This Abuja forum also wants government to provide answers to questions bordering on the delay in activating projects on gas flaring, alleging that trillions of naira are stock in the project.

The coalition commended president Buhari for signing into law the bill establishing the federal petroleum university, Effurun, but wants the federal government to come out clean on issues militating against the implementation of pronouncements made so far on the maritime university of Nigeria.

The gathering appealed to agitators like IPOB, Arewa youths, Oduduwa youths and indeed the Niger delta youths to embrace non-violent approaches to their quests and demands.

The gathering also wants the military to maintain orderliness in any part of Nigeria and avoid the use of force, which may affect innocent citizens.